Root length density and water uptake in cereals and grain legumes: how well are they correlated

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 513 ◽  
Author(s):  
AP Hamblin ◽  
D Tennant
Keyword(s):  
Water Uptake ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Genotypic Variation ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Rates Of Change ◽  
Axial Resistance

Total root length per unit ground area (La) is often considered to be directly related to the amount and rate of water uptake. Experiments were conducted to compare the water use of spring wheat, barley, lupin (L. angustifolius) and field pea on four differing soil types in drought-stressed conditions. The La values of cereals were consistently five to ten times as large as those of grain legumes, whereas the aboveground biomass was sim~iar and never greater than twice that of the grain legumes. Growing-season water loss (WL) from the soil profile was very similar for wheat and lupins, despite this big difference in root length. Soil evaporation may have been greater under lupins, but when crop water uptake was compared for the period when leaf area was greatest, rates of change in soil water content within the root zone were still similar and were not well correlated with La. Specific root water uptake (Ur) was consistently greater for lupin than wheat. Maximum rooting depth was better correlated with WL than was La in all cases. Higher Ur values in lupin and pea may be related to their large and abundant metaxylem vessels, which give much lower axial resistance than in cereals. These results provide strong evidence for genotypic variation in root morphology, density and root extension between dicotyledenous and monocotyledenous species. They also indicate that La is not necessarily the root morphological characteristic most responsible for efficiency of water uptake in drought-stressed environments.

Effects of Plant Morphology on Root-soil Hydraulic Interactions of Schefflera Heptaphylla

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.W.W. Ng ◽  
Zi Jian Wang ◽  
Jun Jun Ni
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Plant Morphology ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Sink Term ◽  
Soil Hydraulic

Root water uptake induces additional soil suction by soil water extraction. However, induced soil suction restricts root water uptake when beyond a threshold (<i>s<sub>t</sub></i>) and tend to stop water uptake at limiting suction (<i>s<sub>l</sub></i>). This process is called root-soil hydraulic interactions, whose relationship with plant morphology (e.g., plant height, leaf area and root length) is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of plant morphology on response of sink term (water uptake intensity; <i>WUI</i>) to soil suction for <i>Schefflera Heptaphylla</i>. Laboratory tests were conducted on twenty-six individuals in five different height groups. A new empirical model was derived to consider effects of plant morphology on root water uptake distribution in full soil suction range. The locations of maximum root length density (<i>RLD</i>) and <i>WUI</i> for taller individuals were relatively deeper and farther away from centreline. Before soil suction reaches st, water uptake length ability (<i>WULA</i>) remained at maximum level, positively related to LR ratio (ratio between <i>LA</i> and <i>RL</i>) but less affected by plant height. For taller plants, the decreasing rate of <i>s<sub>t</sub></i> with LR ratio was higher, while the decreasing rate of <i>WULA</i> with soil suction beyond <i>s<sub>t</sub></i> appeared smaller. <i>s<sub>l</sub></i> appeared independent of height, <i>LA</i> and <i>RL</i>.

scholarly journals Modelling the Impact on Root Water Uptake and Solute Return Flow of Different Drip Irrigation Regimes with Brackish Water

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fairouz Slama ◽  
Nessrine Zemni ◽  
Fethi Bouksila ◽  
Roberto De Mascellis ◽  
Rachida Bouhlila
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Brackish Water ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Return Flows ◽  
Semi Arid

Water scarcity and quality degradation represent real threats to economic, social, and environmental development of arid and semi-arid regions. Drip irrigation associated to Deficit Irrigation (DI) has been investigated as a water saving technique. Yet its environmental impacts on soil and groundwater need to be gone into in depth especially when using brackish irrigation water. Soil water content and salinity were monitored in a fully drip irrigated potato plot with brackish water (4.45 dSm−1) in semi-arid Tunisia. The HYDRUS-1D model was used to investigate the effects of different irrigation regimes (deficit irrigation (T1R, 70% ETc), full irrigation (T2R, 100% ETc), and farmer’s schedule (T3R, 237% ETc) on root water uptake, root zone salinity, and solute return flows to groundwater. The simulated values of soil water content (θ) and electrical conductivity of soil solution (ECsw) were in good agreement with the observation values, as indicated by mean RMSE values (≤0.008 m3·m−3, and ≤0.28 dSm−1 for soil water content and ECsw respectively). The results of the different simulation treatments showed that relative yield accounted for 54%, 70%, and 85.5% of the potential maximal value when both water and solute stress were considered for deficit, full. and farmer’s irrigation, respectively. Root zone salinity was the lowest and root water uptake was the same with and without solute stress for the treatment corresponding to the farmer’s irrigation schedule (273% ETc). Solute return flows reaching the groundwater were the highest for T3R after two subsequent rainfall seasons. Beyond the water efficiency of DI with brackish water, long term studies need to focus on its impact on soil and groundwater salinization risks under changing climate conditions.

scholarly journals Water uptake dynamics under progressive drought stress in diverse accessions of the OryzaSNP panel of rice (Oryza sativa)

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veeresh R. P. Gowda ◽  
Amelia Henry ◽  
Vincent Vadez ◽  
H. E. Shashidhar ◽  
Rachid Serraj
Keyword(s):  
Oryza Sativa ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Oryza Sativa L ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Snp Markers ◽  
Drought Response ◽  
Genotypic Differences

In addition to characterising root architecture, evaluating root water uptake ability is important for understanding drought response. A series of three lysimeter studies were conducted using the OryzaSNP panel, which consists of 20 diverse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes. Large genotypic differences in drought response were observed in this genotype panel in terms of plant growth and water uptake. Total water uptake and daily water uptake rates in the drought-stress treatment were correlated with root length density, especially at depths below 30 cm. Patterns of water uptake among genotypes remained consistent throughout the stress treatments: genotypes that initially extracted more water were the same genotypes that extracted more water at the end of the study. These results suggest that response to drought by deep root growth, rather than a conservative soil water pattern, seems to be important for lowland rice. Genotypes in the O. sativa type aus group showed some of the greatest water uptake and root growth values. Since the OryzaSNP panel has been genotyped in detail with SNP markers, we expect that these results will be useful for understanding the genetics of rice root growth and function for water uptake in response to drought.

scholarly journals Water and salt transport in daily irrigated root zone.

1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-406
Author(s):  
C. Dirksen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Salt Transport ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Transport Models ◽  
Leaching Fraction ◽  
Water Contents

With closed, high-frequency irrigation systems, the water supply can be tailored to the instant needs of plants. To be able to do this optimally, it is necessary to understand how plants interact with their environment. To study water uptake under a variety of non-uniform conditions in the root zone, lucerne was grown in laboratory soil columns with automated gamma ray attenuation, tensiometer and salinity sensor equipment to measure soil water contents, pressure potentials and osmotic potentials, respectively. The columns were irrigated with water of different salinity at various frequencies and leaching fractions. This paper presents results obtained in a column irrigated daily with water of conductivity 0.33 S/m (h0 = -13.2 m) at a target leaching fraction of 0.08. This includes the drying and wetting patterns under daily irrigations in deficit and excess of evapotranspiration, respectively. After 230 days the salination of the column had still not reached a steady state. Salinity increased rapidly with depth and root water uptake was shallow for the deep-rooting lucerne. Water and salt transport under daily irrigation cannot be described without taking hysteresis of soil water retention into account. The data presented are suitable for testing various water uptake models, once numerical water and salt transport models of the required complexity are operational. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals How to put plant root uptake into a soil water flow model

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Xuejun Dong
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Root Uptake ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Plant Root Uptake

The need for improved crop water use efficiency calls for flexible modeling platforms to implement new ideas in plant root uptake and its regulation mechanisms. This paper documents the details of modifying a soil infiltration and redistribution model to include (a) dynamic root growth, (b) non-uniform root distribution and water uptake, (c) the effect of water stress on plant water uptake, and (d) soil evaporation. The paper also demonstrates strategies of using the modified model to simulate soil water dynamics and plant transpiration considering different sensitivity of plants to soil dryness and different mechanisms of root water uptake. In particular, the flexibility of simulating various degrees of compensated uptake (whereby plants tend to maintain potential transpiration under mild water stress) is emphasized. The paper also describes how to estimate unknown root distribution and rooting depth parameters by the use of a simulation-based searching method. The full documentation of the computer code will allow further applications and new development.

scholarly journals Oil Palm Water Balance; a tools for Analysing Oil Palm Water Footprint and Root Water Uptake Distribution in Root Zone

2019 ◽  
Vol 260 ◽  
pp. 012040
Author(s):  
L Safitri ◽  
Hermantoro ◽  
S Purboseno ◽  
V Kautsar ◽  
S K Saptomo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Root Water Uptake

What limits deep water uptake by deep-rooted crops?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Rasmussen ◽  
Eva Rosenqvist ◽  
Fulai Liu ◽  
Dorte Bodin Dresbøll ◽  
Kristian Thorup-Kristensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Deep Roots ◽  
Water Limitations

&lt;p&gt;Minimizing water limitation during growth of agricultural crops is crucial to unlocking full yield potentials. Crop yield losses vary according to timing and severity of water limitations, but even short-term droughts can be a major cause of yield losses. While the potential influence of deep roots on water uptake has been highlighted numerous times, the actual contribution of deep roots to water uptake is yet to be revealed. The objective of this study is to get an understanding of what limits deep water uptake by deep-rooted crops under topsoil water limitations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We found that deep-rooted crops experience water limitations despite access to water stored in the deep soil and we hypothesize that deep water uptake by deep-rooted crops is limited by 1) the hydraulic conductivity of the deeper part of the root zone, arising from limited root length density in combination with the hydraulic resistance of the roots or 2) by a hormonal response arising from the plant sensing dry conditions in the shallow soil leading to stomata closure, to conserve water. The two hypotheses can of course not be valid simultaneously, but both might be valid under certain conditions, at certain times or for certain species.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In a large-scale semi-field setup, we grow oil seed rape and by combining measures of root development, root hydraulic conductivity, transpiration, stomatal conductance, ABA concentrations and soil water content from a large scale semi-field setup with a mechanistic 3-D root-soil modelling approach (R-SWMS), we are able to us distinguish various scenarios and to evaluate what limits deep water uptake.&lt;/p&gt;

Associations Between Productivity, Root Growth and Carbon Isotope Discrimination in Phaseolus vulgaris Under Water Deficit

1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW White ◽  
JA Castillo ◽  
J Ehleringer
Keyword(s):  
Phaseolus Vulgaris ◽  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Cultivar Differences ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Rainfed Conditions

Recent theoretical and empirical studies have indicated that isotopic discrimination against 13C (Δ) during photosynthesis in C3 plants reflects variation in intercellular CO2 concentration (ci). Under water deficit, cultivar differences in Δ may indicate differences in leaf gas exchange characteristics. Cultivar differences in Δ may also result indirectly from genetic variation in root characteristics affecting the level of water stress experienced by the canopy. Differences in root growth affecting the degree of dehydration postponement could prolong gas exchange activity and the maintenance of relatively high ci and Δ. To evaluate relations between root growth, productivity and Δ in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), Δ and crop growth parameters, including biomass production, grain yield and root length density, were determined for ten bean genotypes grown under rainfed conditions at two sites in Colombia which differed primarily in soil fertility and effective rooting depth. The 10 genotypes were also grown under irrigation at the more fertile site. Under rainfed conditions, root length density was positively correlated with Δ in the fertile Mollisol at Palmira, and was also positively correlated with Δ in the infertile Oxisol at Quilichao if one possibly abberent genotype was excluded. At Palmira, reduced crop growth and seed yield were associated with low Δ values. At Quilichao, intermediate Δ values were associated with the greatest growth and yield. Under irrigation at Palmira there was no association between growth or yield and Δ.

scholarly journals Effect of parameter choice in root water uptake models – the arrangement of root hydraulic properties within the root architecture affects dynamics and efficiency of root water uptake

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 4189-4206 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bechmann ◽  
C. Schneider ◽  
A. Carminati ◽  
D. Vetterlein ◽  
S. Attinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Hydraulic Lift ◽  
Hydraulic Redistribution ◽  
Young Root

Abstract. Detailed three-dimensional models of root water uptake have become increasingly popular for investigating the process of root water uptake. However, they suffer from a lack of information on important parameters, particularly on the spatial distribution of root axial and radial conductivities, which vary greatly along a root system. In this paper we explore how the arrangement of those root hydraulic properties and branching within the root system affects modelled uptake dynamics, xylem water potential and the efficiency of root water uptake. We first apply a simple model to illustrate the mechanisms at the scale of single roots. By using two efficiency indices based on (i) the collar xylem potential ("effort") and (ii) the integral amount of unstressed root water uptake ("water yield"), we show that an optimal root length emerges, depending on the ratio between roots axial and radial conductivity. Young roots with high capacity for radial uptake are only efficient when they are short. Branching, in combination with mature transport roots, enables soil exploration and substantially increases active young root length at low collar potentials. Second, we investigate how this shapes uptake dynamics at the plant scale using a comprehensive three-dimensional root water uptake model. Plant-scale dynamics, such as the average uptake depth of entire root systems, were only minimally influenced by the hydraulic parameterization. However, other factors such as hydraulic redistribution, collar potential, internal redistribution patterns and instantaneous uptake depth depended strongly on the arrangement on the arrangement of root hydraulic properties. Root systems were most efficient when assembled of different root types, allowing for separation of root function in uptake (numerous short apical young roots) and transport (longer mature roots). Modelling results became similar when this heterogeneity was accounted for to some degree (i.e. if the root systems contained between 40 and 80% of young uptake roots). The average collar potential was cut to half and unstressed transpiration increased by up to 25% in composed root systems, compared to homogenous ones. Also, the least efficient root system (homogenous young root system) was characterized by excessive bleeding (hydraulic lift), which seemed to be an artifact of the parameterization. We conclude that heterogeneity of root hydraulic properties is a critical component for efficient root systems that needs to be accounted for in complex three-dimensional root water uptake models.

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